Is it really the Holiday Season in Tech without some year-end chaos? In this episode of Off the VPN, we get into a caroling mood and talk about the festive quirks of the Tech industry while we Make the Yuletide gay. From hypothetical code freeze nightmares to awkward holiday Zoom parties, it’s all about navigating the end-of-year madness. Put your stockings up above the fireplace, and tune in for some “juicy” holiday cheer (or coal).

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Highlights:

• Tech & Festivities: Allison and Jasmine unpack the unique energy of the season in tech—deploy freezes, year-end wrap-ups, and on-call rotation woes.
• Cheers or Coal: A holiday-themed “would you rather” game puts the duo to the test with scenarios like Zoom caroling and CEO TikTok dances.
• Holiday Hilarity: Feeling micromanaged by endless check-ins? Jasmine and Allison share a story about a team lead who insists on multiple daily meetings and offer strategies to push back on inefficient management.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Kicking off with holiday vibes and tech quirks

(03:12) Snow days, ski masks, and heated blanket dreams

(06:25) The chaos of year-end product deployment 

(09:38) Choose your coal: Holiday bugs or January incidents?

(12:51) Zoom caroling vs. company hoodies: The ultimate debate

(15:42) Year-end reviews: Feedback nightmares or holiday cheer?

(18:49) CEO TikTok trends: Cringe-worthy or genius?

(22:15) Surviving holiday mishaps in the tech world

(27:01) Wrapping up with holiday fails and festive laughs